Lee Anderson, MP for Ashfield, celebrated UK Parliament Week with local schools.

A series of events have been organised throughout the country in a bid to start a UK-wide conversation about democracy and participation.

UK Parliament Week is an annual festival that is organised by the UK Parliament to inform and educate citizens about the work and role of the UK Parliament.

This year, due to Covid-19 restrictions, Parliament Week had to be different. With this in mind, Lee invited schools to take part in a remote question and answer session through Zoom or Teams. The MP stated that no questions were off limits and the pupils did not disappoint.

The sessions took place throughout the day and saw primary and secondary schools take part. The students grilled the MP about the role of a Member of Parliament and wondered what Prime Minister Boris Johnson was like in real life.

Lee explained: “This was the first Parliament Week that I have done as the MP. All the students had questions ready for me, ranging from university tuition fees to local crime. Abbey Hill Primary School wondered what I would do if I was the Prime Minister. My answer was to make Ashfield the capital, naturally. I was also asked what qualifications were needed to become a MP; while no academic qualifications are needed we all agreed that compassion and caring about people and the area were crucial.”

Lee was also impressed that despite the Covid situation frustrating the youngsters, they all seemed to be taking it in their stride and were getting on with it. They all knew the guidelines and weren’t phased with any technical glitches the remote meetings could present.

Ashfield Comprehensive Year 10 students promised to write to the MP about the impact of school closures in the first lockdown. The letter will be discussed with the Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson.

Mapplewells Primary tasked the MP with sourcing a signed tin of baked beans from Boris Johnson.

Lee thanked all the schools for taking part and promised to visit them all in person as soon as he is able.

He said: “To think a year ago we would be in the situation we are in now would have been unimaginable. These young people have really humbled me today.

“Despite the huge sacrifices they’re making, they are just getting on with it. A year ago we didn’t even know what Zoom was – now they’re grilling the MP on it as if they’ve been using it all their life. They make me very proud.”

Lee Anderson is pictured with students from Abbey Hill Primary and Mapplewells Primary on one of the Zoom sessions.